Welcome to Birthwise Midwifery School

Congratulations Graduating Class of 2015

Birthwise Midwifery School is a small private institution founded in 1994 in Bridgton, Maine. We are a comprehensive, three-year education program for aspiring Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council and licensed by the State of Maine Department of Education. Birthwise has been approved by SEVIS for enrollment of international students, and students are eligible to apply for Federal Student Aid through the U.S. Education Department (FAFSA).

Birthwise offers a rigorous academic program taught by a diverse faculty at our Bridgton facility, as well as a clinical component with qualified preceptors located locally and ultimately in a location of the student’s choosing. Birthwise offers two arrangements of the midwifery program: our Campus Program is a residential program that follows the typical academic calendar and the Community Program allows students to stay in their home communities for their clinical work interspersed with ten 2-week classroom sessions at the Birthwise facility during the 3-year program.

Upon graduation from Birthwise, students are eligible to sit for the North American National Registry of Midwives (NARM) exam. Passing the NARM written exam in conjunction with graduation from Birthwise results in being nationally credentialed as a CPM. Many U.S. states use the CPM credential as a requirement for licensure. Certified Professional Midwives are regulated on a state-by-state basis. Students are encouraged to do their own research regarding the state in which they will eventually want to practice in. Contacts in each state are listed on the MANA website: http://mana.org/about-midwives/state-by-state#top

For applicants interested in practicing in the state of California, they have a unique law that requires an applicant for licensure to not only to have their NARM certification, but to have graduated from an educational program approved by the state. Birthwise is currently an approved school, allowing graduates to apply for licensure in California.

Although Birthwise does not guarantee employment upon completion of the program, most graduates are self- employed in independent, or private midwifery practices. The Birthwise Academic Staff works with students while they are in the program to identify their goals for midwifery practice through individual conferences with the Academic and Clinical Director and in their Professional Midwifery courses. The school receives many postings for job openings and these are posted for student access on Birthwise Connects on Facebook (for alumni and current students only private group) and are also sent via email to Birthwise alumni.

If you are interested in learning more about attending Birthwise Midwifery School, we encourage you to explore this website thoroughly, or contact Birthwise directly via e-mail, phone, or mail. We encourage prospective students to come visit the school and sit in on classes for a day to help them determine whether Birthwise is the right program for them.